This blog will contain an assorted mixture of whatever that pours out of my mind and finds expression in words.. I love the beauty of words, I love my friends and above all I love the dark pearl of Dwaraka, the one and only Krishna

Word Analysis अयं शिवः that Shiva जटा अटवी गलत् जल प्रवाह पावित स्थले the ground sanctified by the flow of water from the forest which was his matted lock गले लम्बितां भुजङ्ग तुङ्ग मालिकां अवलम्ब्य holding the garland formed by the great serpent who was holding fast to the Lord's neck डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन् निनादवत् डमरु : playing the drum resounding with the beat damaddamadamaddamadamaaddam चण्डताण्डवं चकार performed the fierce dance (at the close of the yuga)I सः शिवः नः शिवं तनोतु May that Shiva bestow His bountiful grace of peace on us

Meaning On the hallowed land sanctified by the copious flow of water from the celestial River Ganga meandering through the forest which is His matted locks, Holding like a beautiful garland the hooded serpant (Vasuki) who is snuggling around the dark neck of the Lord Playing a drum (damaru) to the regular beat.. damad damad damad damad That Lord of eternal Calm, Shiva, performed the dance shaking the world (as if it were the end of yuga)

My sincere and intensive devotion may be always directed towards that Shiva who has affectionately adorned the infant crescent moon on His hair, The deep inner recesses of His matted hair contains the celestial river Ganga, which is swirling in agitation (when Lord Shiva dances) And produces a tiny rivulet of delicate and bright waves of water washing gently His wide forehead,

word analysis धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनी the daughter of the huge mountain that keeps the earth in place(Himavan) विलासबन्धु related or arising out of (her) constant and happy presence बन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्तति the brilliant and ebullient flow in all directions till the end of the universe प्रमोदमान मानसे who has a mind which is filled with ecstasy कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी flow of the merciful gaze from the corner of the eyes निरुद्धदुर्धरापदि which puts a stop to the gravest and unsurpassable danger क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे (क्वचिच्चिदम्बरे) वस्तुनि only by the open sky or alternately an object which kindles the inner self मम my मनो mind विनोदमेतु reach the ultimate pleasure..

Meaning May my mind draw the ultimate pleasure (in contemplation of ) the object which has only the open space as its clothes (Digambhara) or alternately the object which rejuvenates the sky which is the innermost space in the hear (Chidambara) He(Shiva) has a mind flowing with great ecstasy flowing in all directions till the end of the universe, that ecstasy oozing out in all ebullience from the Lord's mind which is shining forth in the constant presence and company of that Uma Parvathy the daughter of the King of Mountains ( the Mountain that keeps the earth in its place) The flow of ultimate mercy from the corner of His eyes alone is capable of putting a stop to the gravest dangers which are otherwise unstoppable for us (the ordinary humans )

[the stotram has two versions.. using the word Digambara and the word Chidambara.. in the fourth line of Stanza 3 ..We can use either.. ( The Lord Shankara in his Supreme Manifestation is having no clothes… or has only the space for His clothes.. so He is called Digamabara.. Dik ambaram yasya SaH..दिक् अम्बरं यस्य सः .. He is Chidambara too as He occupies the Sky that is the Chit area.. or the nucleus of our minds..)]

word analysis लता भुजङ्ग the creeper that is a snake पिङ्गल tawny red स्फुरत् radiating फणामणिप्रभा glow from the Manikya gem shining in the hood (of the snake) कदम्ब mosaic or varied mixture (of colours) प्रलिप्त applied with colour or painted with दिग्वधूमुखे the faces of the brides that are the cardinal directions मदान्ध blind with rut सिन्धुर elephant स्फुरत् giving out, shining त्वगुत्तरीय the upper garment covering the torso which is the skin (of elephant) मेदुरे rendered attractive भूतभर्तरि the Master and protector of all beings विनोदमद्भुतं playful and at the same time laced in surprise मम मनो my mind बिभर्तु may hold Meaning

May my mind dwell upon that Master of Protector or all beings, Lord Shankara with awe and affection The hooded snake hanging from His neck like a long slender creeper The Manikya gem embedded in the hood radiating bright tawny red radiation in all directions And all the cardinal directions look like brides ( girls having mehandi just before marriage) whose faces refect that tawny red colour as if those faces have been painted with a mosaic of hues given out by a paste of herbal mixture His body or torso covered by the most attractive and shiny garment which is the skin of an elephant which is blind with rut or Mada Notes The imagery is sublime.. The Lord is dancing and the Snake adhering to His neck is swinging with hood down.. The gem embedded in the hood radiates brownish red lustre.. and those rays of reddish brown hue are painting the faces of all the cardinal directions as if they were brides being given make up for marriage The Lord is called Krittivaasaa.. who wears the hide (skin) of an elephant..

The Lord who is the protector of all mild beings in the forest once captured a rutty elephant which was doing damage to all, tore off its skin and wore it as Uttareeyam or upper garment..The uttareeyam is shining with red colour of the blood of the elephant and the dark colour of elephant skin.. The Lord is the Master of all living beings.. the Pashupathi..)

word analysis सहस्रलोचन the thousand eyed Indra प्रभृति onwards अशेष all witout exception लेख शेखर rows of head प्रसून flower धूलि dust, flower dust धोरणी spreading in abundance विधूसर made grey or of faded colour by dust अङ्घ्रि पीठभूः having the foot stool भुजङ्ग snake राज the king of मालया garland or rope निबद्ध tied up जाट जूटक the cluster or matted hair चकोर बन्धु शेखरः who has collected the friend of Chakora bird.. the moon in His head शिवः Shiva चिराय for ever,

श्रियै for wealth and welfare

जायतां may be pleased favourably.

Meaning

That Shiva who has kept the crescent of moon-- the moon who is the friend of the chakora bird -- in His hair may be pleased to bestow on me wealth and welfare for ever and without interruption That moon is held in the matted lock of Shankara whose cluster of hair is tied together with a rope which is none other than the king of Sepents.. The stool of bright (golden colour)upon which Shiva’s foot is placed has turned grey because it is smeared thickly with the dust falling from flowers from the rows heads of Gods like Indra of thousand eyes.. (maybe it includes Vishnu too who is called Sahasraaksha.. in Purushasooktham and Vishnusahasranamam). who place their heads at the feet of Lord Shiva.

Notes. The moon is mentioned as the relative of the Chakora Bird because usually that bird is seen singing songs during moonlit nights pining for the mate.. Chakora is the Uppan or Chembothu bird.. also called Crow Pheasant..

That matted lock of Shiva adorning the top of His head may be the source of blessing for attainment of eternal wealth and Siddhi(Grace) for us. The matted lock has a square lawn in front in the shape of the wide forehead of Shiva from the fire burning with smoulder in His third eye, and powerful sparks ejecting from that fire burnt to ashes the lord of love Kamadeva who was armed with five arrows of flower. That matted lock is brilliantly adorned with the crescent of the moon.. the moon who is having its cool rays resembling flow of amrutham or ambrosia.. That matted lock is worshiped with humble prostrations by the Lord of Heaven like Indra..

Note The rays of moon are supposed to shower health and Grace, as if they are carrying with them amrutham.. So moon is called Sudhaa Mayookha.. Sudhaamshu is another name of the moon with the same meaning..

The matted locks in the head is compared with some sort of shrine which has a quadrangle where a great yajna is done.. The quadrangle or court yard is the wide forehead of the Lord and fire-pit or Homakundam for such yajna is the Lords third eye.. where the real agnideva resides.. Once when Shankara was doing penance and was in Samadhi, the Lord of Love Kamadeva, wanted to wake Him up from penance and shot at the lord his five arrows of flowers Ashoka, White Lotus, Blue Lotus, Jasmine and Mango.

The flowers would have aroused erotic feelings in others, but they failed before the Lord.. The Lord was enraged at being woken up from His samadhi and just looked at the intruder with His third eye which emitted fire.. And Kamadeva was reduced to Ashes..

Moon is the repository of all herbs and potions.. It is believed that the herbal plants and creepers which are used to treat ailments and rejuvenate our life assume their medicinal qualities which reach them from the moon through his rays.. So Moon is sending Sudhaa or Amrutham through its rays.. the Mayukhams.. In fact the herbs are luminiscent and shine spontaneously in night.. Mahaushadeem Naktahm iva Aatmabhaasah... (Kalidasa) self luminosity visiting great herbs during nights... SomaH aushadheenaam adhipathiH.. Moon is the Lord of Herbs

कराल pronounced भाल forehead पट्टिका wide space धगद्धगद्धगद्व ज्वलद् burning with hissing sound dagat dagat dagat धनञ्जय आहुतीकृत given or made as oblation to the fire प्रचण्ड impetuous, vehement, aggressive पञ्चसायके the Lord of Love Kamadeva of five arrows धराधरेन्द्र the formost of the mountains नन्दिनी daughter कुचाग्र tip of the breast चित्रपत्रक artistic line प्रकल्पन drawing एक शिल्पिनि the one artist त्रिलोचने having thee eyes मम my रतिः affectionate thought अस्तु may be there

Meaning

May mind be immersed in affectionate and respectful thoughts on that Shiva, the three-eyed one The fire emanating with a hissing sound dhagat dhagat dhagat from the third eye present in Shivas wide forehed just received as oblation the impetuous Lord of love who wielded arrows made of five flowers ( the burning of Kamadeva by Shivas third eye is implied here ) That Shankara is the artist who is engaged with full attention in drawing ornamental patterns at the top of the attractive breasts of Uma Parvathy, the daughter of Himavan, the Lord of mountains..

Note The devotees in India were never ashamed to used Sringararasam in the prayers.. Shiva is having romantic and erotic intent on mother Uma and that is the ultimate in another plane of the Union of Shiva and Shakthi.. And the mutual attraction is so natural, and the devotee need not shy away from that.. We can see similar expressions in great Kavyams.. especially like Jayadeva’s Geethagovinda.. गोपीपीन पयोधर मर्द्धान चञ्चल करयुग शाली.. gopee peena payodhara marddhana chanchala karayuga Shaalee.. Jayadeva described Madhava this way..

Word analysis नवीन fresh मेघमण्डली cluster or layers of (dark) clouds निरुद्ध stopped दुर्धरस्फुरत् seeping out of impediments difficult to pass through कुहूनिशीथिनी तमः the darkness of the New moon (amavasya) night प्रबन्ध tightly gripping बद्ध tied कन्धरः neck निलिम्प निर्झरीधरः wearing the celestial river.. Ganga कृत्तिसिन्धुरः wearing the skin of an elephant कलानिधान बन्धुरः shining with the moon seen as a crescent जगत् दुरन्धरः bearing the entire universe with great strength and valour शिवः श्रियं तनोतु may Shiva bestow on us all Grace and prosperity..

Meaning

May that Great Lord Shankara bestow on us all wealth and His Grace That Lord who appears as if his neck is tightly fastened by a pitch dark brace of utter blackness.. resembling the darkness of a new moon night filtered by layers of fresh black clouds That Lord who is holding the celestial river Ganga in His locks That Lord wearing the raw skin of a wild elephant That Lord who shines forth with the crescent of moon adorning His head That Lord who carries in Him the whole universe with all strength and valour Note

1 The Koorma Puranam describes a story where Brahmins worshipping a Shivalingam at Varanasi were attacked by a demon Gajaasura taking the form of an elephant.. The Lord Shankara emerged out of the lingam and killed the demon in the shape of an elephant, and wore its bleeding skin as his upper garment.. This is why Shiva is called Krittivasa.. the one who wears Skin.. The word Krittivasa denoting Sri Rudra appears in Vedas too.. “Kruttivaasaah pinaakee…". “ कृत्तिवासाः पिनाकी ....."

2 The New moon or Amavasya night is itself Dark.. When that night is having new dark clouds, the blackness is almost impenitrable.. The black band in the neck of the Lord Shankara, caused by His drinking the poison Kalakootam or Halahalam during the churning of the Milky ocean, is compared to that darkness.

नील पङ्कज blue lotus प्रपञ्च agglomeration कालिम black colour प्रभावलंबी resembling that sheen कण्ठ throat कन्दली dark blue flower Kandali. रुचि प्रबद्ध cluster tied around कन्धरं the neck स्मरच्छिदं the one who destroyed the God of love Kamadeva पुरच्छिदं the one who annihilated the three fortresses thripuras भवच्छिदं the one who removes the worldly woes of the devotees मखच्छिदं the one who desecrated the yajna arranged by Daksha Prajapati गजच्छिदम् the one who pulverised the demon Gajasura in the shape of an elephant, tore up his skin and wore it as His upper garment अन्धकच्छिदं the one who killed Andhakaasura of thousand heads who tried to abduct Devi Uma Parvathi अन्तकच्छिदं the one who became the God of death to Yama the killer God, in a bid to save Markandeya and grant his immortality.. तं ( शिवं ) on that Shiva भजे I take refuge.

Meaning

I take refuge on that Shiva The Lord whose throat is nestled by the dark blue Kandali flowers which agree in hue and sheen with the dark blue lotuses worn by him around His neck ( and also the colour of the entire upper torso.. which is dark because of the effect of Halahalam, the poison) The Lord who , by opening his third eye, reduced the God of Love, Kamadeva to ashes. The Lord who destroyed the three cities, Thripuras.. occupied by fierce demons.. ( The cities were made of Iron, Silver and Gold) The Lord who removes our worldly woes The Lord who desecrated the yajna arranged by Daksha Prajapati The lord who pulverised the demon Gajasura who took the shape of an elephant and tried to fight with Shiva .

The Supreme Lord tore up the skin of the elephant and wore it as His upper garment The Lord who killed the evil demon Andhakaasura of thousand heads who tried to abduct Uma Parvathi The Lord who became the God of death to Yama, the killer God, in a bid to save Markandeya. The lord granted immortality to Markandeya..Note Kandali is a plant found in the Himalayan valleys, which flowere once in Twelve years.. just like the Kurinchi flowers found in the Kodai Ranges..

अखर्व without shortage, in good form (अगर्व great without arrogance) (agarva is a paadabhedam.. on alternate version.. Akharva looks more appropriate) सर्वमङ्गला कला having the attractive artistry to provide all blessings and happiness on others कदम्ब मञ्जरी the bunch or garland of all types of flowers रसप्रवाहमाधुरी the sweetness arising out of the flow of fragrnace and sweet honey विजृम्भणा excited when in full bloom मधुव्रतम् the honey bees स्मरान्तकं the killer of Kamadeva पुरान्तकं the destroyer of the three cities भवान्तकं the destroyer of worldly woes मखान्तकं the destroyer of the yajna or sacrificial rite of Daksha गजान्तकं the killer of the demon in the form of an elephant. अन्धकान्त्कं the killer of the demon Andhaka अन्तकान्तकं killer of Yama the God of death himself तं शिवं भजे I take refuge on that Shiva

Meaning..

I take refuge on that Shiva That Lord is adorned with garland of all beautiful flowers which are fresh from garden.. The flowers are in very huge numbers.. These flowers and just blooming and the fragrance is spreading all around and the sweet honey is also oozing from them.. The honey bees, attracted by the nectar are encircling the garlands excitedly and thus swarming around the Lord. He is the killer of Kamadeva He is the destroyer of the three cities He is the destroyer of our worldly woes He is the destroyer of the yajna or sacrificial rite of Daksha He is the killer of the demon in the form of an elephant. He is the killer of the demon Andhaka He is killer of Yama the God of death himself Note.

The attributes of Siva as killer of Kamadeva etc are just a repetition of what is explanined in Stanza 9 .. That Stanza may be referred to.. Great poets sometimes repeat themselves for good effect.. See how many times Lord Tennyson has repeated.. “ Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever” in his poem of the Brook.. My translation is intended to convey the spirit of the stanza.. I have given word to word analysis.. That can be used if a formal translation is required.. Such a translation can be of use only in textbooks..

विनिर्गमत् flowing out स्फुरत् sprouting कराल venom भाल हव्यवाट् the one who has fire in his temple धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनत् producing beats dhimit dhimit dhimit मृदङ्ग तुङ्ग मङ्गलध्वनि percussions at high pitch from mridangam which produces musical sounds of blessedness for the whole world क्रम प्रवर्तितः accompanying to the beats प्रचण्डताण्डवः the one who is performing the fierce dance as if at the deluge of the universe शिवः जयतु May that Shiva be victorious..Meaning

May that Shiva who is performing the fierce dance as if at the deluge of the universe be victorious for ever.. That Shiva, who is performing the dance in free and uninhibited movements and the Snakes occupying all over his body are also whirling around as a result of the dance, and they spew venom through their breaths .. That Shiva whose temple houses the third eye where fire is smouldering.. That Shiva is performing His dance to the accompaniment of the beats of mridanga in high pitched cadence filling the air with blessed musical notes . Dhimid Dhimid DhimidShiva Tandava Stortram Stanza 12

मौक्तिक स्रजोः garland made with pearls गरिष्ठ रत्न valuable gems लोष्ठयोः pieces of logs or stones सुहृद् विपक्ष पक्षयोः the two sides --- friends and foes तृण grass अरविन्दचक्षुषोः those having eyes resembling lotus प्रजामही subjects of and the occupants of the earth महेन्द्रयोः Mahendra the lord of heaven समं with equality प्रवर्तयद् working मनः a mind

Meaning

When will I have the good fortune to worship with all sincerity the Lord of eternal peace Sadhaashiva? The Lord who shows equanimity and equal mercy and concern for things which occupy queerly different levels A snake encircling His neck and a garland of pearls are just equal to Him Neither a treasure of very precious stones or a piece of stone on wooden log make any difference for Him He is equally cordial to those who are friendly with Him or even those who are opposed to Him He does not see any difference in beauty between a piece of grass or a person having attractive eyes resembling lotuses For Him we the occupants of this earth and Indra the Lord of Heaven are all just equal ( His mind works with such a generous vision of Mercy)Note

The tattwa of Shiva is equanimity.. He just lives in a burial ground smearing his body with ashes, wearing snakes for ornaments and wearing sparse clothes, that too of skin of wild animals.. but all powers of the Universe just rally around Him and derive their powers from Him.. Can even Marx or Engels invent a better egalitarian that this Shiva?

word analysis कदा when निलिम्पनिर्झरी the celestial river Ganga निकुञ्जकोटरे in the hollow of some bower विमुक्तदुर्मतिः abandoning all bad thoughts वसन् living सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् always holding the folded hands above the head विलोललोललोचनो controlling the movements of eyeballs and winks ललामभाललग्नकः concentrating the eyes and the mind on the middle of the eyebrows on the forehead ( the aajnaachakra) शिवेति मन्त्रं उच्चरन् constantly and without interruption chanting the mantra Shiva.. कदा अहं सुखी भवामि . When am I going to be fortunate to be in the constant comfort and pleasure of..?

Meaning

When am I going to be blessed with the fortune of the ultimate comfort and pleasure Of living in the hollow of a bower in the banks of the heavenly river Ganga, Freed for ever from all my bad thoughts and evil tendencies Holding my folded hands together above my head (in reverence and supplication to the Lord Shankara) Holding to stillness all the movements of my eyes and concentrating the eyes and mind on the centre of the brows (Ajna Chakram) And constantly and without interruption chanting the hold mantram Shiva. Shiva

नरः a human being उत्तमोत्तमं the sublimest of the sublime एवं उक्तं as said above इदम् this स्तवं prayer in praise (of Shiva) नित्यं daily पठन् reading स्मरन् contemplating ब्रुवन् reciting aloud संततं for ever, always विशुद्धिं purity, sacredness एति attains हि surely सः he गुरौ the preceptor, the parent हरे Hara the Shiva आशु forthwith सुभक्तिं याति attains great devotion सः अन्यथा गतिं न याति He will not be led to any evil ways of the fate सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनं देहिनां विमोहनं हि भवति The very thought of that Holy Shankara is enchanting for all beings who move in this world with bodies..

Meaning

If a man reads, meditates upon, recites daily the above hymn in praise of Lord Shiva he becomes free of all impurities, and surely attains sublimity.. The hymn is the best among the best. One who recites this hymn becomes an ardent devotee of Hara the Shankara who is the Guru.. the preceptor and the father of all of us the human beings.. He will not have any occasions to suffer the experience of being thrown to the worldly woes created by the fate.. The very thought of that Holy Shankara is enchanting for all beings who move in this world with bodies..

Note Shankara is a word which means the Lord who will do things which are good for us in this life and for ever.. Here in this phalashruti the word Sushankara is used.. That means the Lord who is in the habit of showering His Grace on all would be more pleased and the torrent of blessings from Him will be beyond limits for the persons who recite this hymn..

In fact the hymn ended with the last stanza itself and this is the Phalashruti.. There is one more Stanza.. about the authorship of this Stotram..

In many renditions, the fifteenth stanza is not found..

But still I shall try to give the meaning of that stanza too in the next post..

For the devotee who recite this hymn which was sung by Ravana at the end of his worship of Shiva, after the Shiva Pooja during Pradosham The lord Shambu for ever showers perennial, abundant and well disposed wealth consisting of Chariots, Elephants and Horses..